One person with knowledge of the situation said Griffin may need exploratory surgery to determine the extent of his injuries. Another said the quarterback hopes to avoid full-blown reconstructive surgery, which would be possible if the tears are partial, not complete.

"We won't know until we give him a full examination," Andrews said. "But he's a great kid, and we're going to get him well for next season."

James C. Dreese, a physician for the University of Maryland athletic teams, said that if Griffin requires reconstructive surgery on his ACL, his rehabilitation would take six to nine months. If the LCL or medial collateral ligament also require reconstruction, that could add as much as two months to the process.

Dreese also said that because this would be Griffin's second ACL reconstruction, the rehab could be slower than it was the first time. "Usually they go a little bit slower the second time, especially if there's a lateral issue as well," Dreese said.